Abby Jimenez can do no wrong and I was so excited to dive into Say You’ll Remember Me. After an amazing marathon of a first date, Samantha is convinced Dr. Xavier Rush is as close to perfect as you can get—if only she wasn’t moving across the country to help her family take care of her mom who has dementia. Xavier can’t get Samantha off his mind, but will the distance be too much. This book definitely reads more women’s fiction that romance. Samantha is going through so much with work and helping with her mom who doesn’t remember her, and it’s heartbreaking. And Xavier is so sweet, it’s so hard much they both want this romance but time and money and travel make it such an uphill battle. It’s emotional, it’s hard, and it’s a beautifully done story. I will say I felt Xavier felt much more invested than Samantha, she was really interested too, but she became his whole world in a way that made some of his chapters feel a little narrow. But their banter is so good, they’re quick-witted, and their chemistry is so strong. I was rooting so hard for these two to find a way to make it work. They communicated well, it was funny, it was heavy; it was all the things! Both come from such complicated family dynamics and they both fought for each other and lifted each other. It was a sweet and emotional romance with a lot of turmoil and a lot of family. My heart went out to all of these characters, and I couldn’t put the book down!

The excitement I felt when I was preapproved for this had me screaming and it did not disappoint. Abby truly writes the best book boyfriends and Xavier did not disappoint. He was so protective and caring! I loved that there was no third act breakup! It was SO good!

3 stars --

The pacing of this book was all over the place? The separation and then being together for 2-3 days, then separated for several months??? BORING.

Truly I am not a sensitive person, but there is some content that I just will not read and it just so happens to be in this book (animal abuse/death) !! It is OFF PAGE, but still mentioned (several times) and it immediately made me want to put this book down. I was so annoyed.

The entirety of the book is about the couple being long distance, Samantha's mom having advanced stage dementia, Xavier dealing with his parental issues. There are some bright & funny spots through out the book (loved her job as the mustard social media manager, and the cat, and the old man vet), but it's truly overshadowed by how DEPRESSING this story line is.

Abby herself claims that she writes rom-coms and this is not romming or comming to me at all.

I have LOVED the last 3 books Abby has put out, but unfortunately this one wasn't for me. It was fine.

Loved this instant love connection book dealing with real family dynamics in addition to the logistics of a long-distance romance. I will read anything Abby Jimenez puts in front of my face and this was probably one of my favorites of hers. There was a lot less miscommunication/lack of communication than her last book, which was a huge plus for me, as it's my most hated romance novel trope. Xavier and Sam were a lovely couple who found their way to each other in the end, as you knew they would. A solid addition to the Abby Jimenez library.

I was a little skeptical to start, but was absolutely sold through the final chapters of the book. Chapter 37 was such a raw illustration of true family conflict. It brought tears to my eyes.

Can’t wait for the general population to get their hands on this book!

🐶 Say You’ll Remember Me 🐱 When the NetGalley approval email landed in my inbox, I may have shed a few tears of joy. It’s like the universe knew I needed a comfort read this week, and Abby delivered! While I know it’s probably too early to be formally reviewing this book, I will be shouting about it closer to release date too — I ADORED it. All the stars, all the tears, and I want to say this might be my favourite of her books so far, but I also love every one of her books so much that I refuse to pick a favourite. They’re all amazing, and if you haven’t yet picked up one of Abby’s books, go read The Friend Zone and then read them in pub order and I promise you won’t be disappointed. She’s truly one of my favourite authors of all time ❤️❤️❤️

Thank you thank you @readforeverpub for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy. This book was a bright light in the midst of a dark week, and I’m forever thankful for the bit of sunshine it brought me. All opinions are my own.

Abby Jimenez proves time and time again that she knows the direct way to a reader's heart. We are introduced to Xavier, a veterinarian with a grumpy side, and Samantha...who always sees the positive side of things. Right away you know that sparks will fly between the two of them. While dealing with real life issues, the reader is taken on a journey between both worlds, to see what will be the end of their love story.

Couldn’t put this one down. Abby Jimenez does it again and hits you in the feels. The stress and turbulence the main characters’ relationship endures is hard to read at times, but you are rooting for it to work out. This book felt almost too realistic if you have had a family member with dementia.

I enjoyed the direct communication between Xavier and Samantha. It was always honest and straightforward. Plus, they were each other's biggest cheerleaders instantly. Getting trapped overnight in an escape room really bonds people together apparently.

Loved this. Can’t wait to recommend it.

Yikes... I am not sure I will continue. I tried but by 10%, Rhysand from acotar was mentioned 3 separate times by 3 separate characters, all to compare our hero to him in terms of looks. AT ONLY 10%!!!! It took up at least two whole pages. It felt like Jimenez was trying way too hard to appeal to a specific audience and definitely overshot. The writing took a plunge as well. Im not sure where the usual magic of an AJ novel went since this was beyond monotonous and flat. Super bummed.

Also, there's a section of blatant racism on the FMC's part saying that a man (named Omar) "f*cked off back to his motherland" and I cannot believe that has bypassed editors. Appalling.

Romance is so intensely personal for me. Some of my favourite romance books have been from unknown authors, but written in a way that were so emotional that I connected to them.

Abby is one of those authors that writes real life stories that have love . And she always has me but I knew going into this one that I had high expectations because last year‘s release was a six star read for me. I intensely connected “Just for the summer” and the emotions of each character, seeing them mirrored in my own life. So well, I did love this it never knocked off JFTS off of 1st place

I did appreciate the spotlight on two characters who came from wildly different childhoods: one toxic and one bursting with love. And because of that, both MMC & FMC were able to love in a way that mimicked or changed the way they were “taught” to love. I actually found myself thinking about one of my favourite non-fiction books “What Happened To You” by Dr Bruce Perry and how the author tapped into that to create her depth of characters. I also appreciated the long distance romance sub genre which really isn’t tapped into much in books I’ve read.

Again, for me, Abby is a top amongst the top in this genre. Her books line my forever favourite shelves but this one just didn’t hit the 5 ⭐️ I was hoping for. It was 4 which is still a LOVE but not the connection for me that I had with the others.

Bottom line: She just write such beautiful emotional romance.

Ps. Love the term “Airport dad”
Thank you Forever & Grand Central Pub for the gifted copy!

Abby Jimenez has done it again! I was hooked from the first page, truly.

Xavier a grumpy vet and Samantha a marketing gal and new cat mom meet when Samantha takes her new kitten to the vet. Xavier does not give off the best first impression and the visit ends with Samantha calling him a choice name. Xavier cannot get Samantha off his mind. She shows back up to his clinic a few weeks later and Xavier asks her on a date. They have an epic evening, the best date ever….but Xavier learns that Samantha is moving across the country, the next day. Samantha is moving back to California to support her mother’s care as she has dementia. This story is about finding your soul mate, right person, wrong time, the love a family has for each other, and what you are willing to risk for those that you love.

I loved Xaviers unwavering commitment to Samantha. It could come off as cringy and insta-love but for me, I ate it up. When Samantha moves back to California, she moves back in with her family. I enjoyed meeting each of her family members and learning the dynamics of the household. There were several laugh out loud moments between the siblings but one thing I could have gone without was the constant “Gen Z” sayings. There were several times a word like “stap” or saying like “bingo card” was used in reference to today’s slang. Abbys writing is so precise and her stories are well rounded, she does not need to add slang. Another theme I could have gone without was how long the back and forth of “will they, won’t they” went on within the book. I was 70% in and the couple was still unsure how to make it work. (But in Abbys defense that is a huge part of the book so I can understand why she had it go on for so long)

Abby is an auto-buy author for me and she will continue to be so. I always love her stories and this one in particular really hit home for me as I am currently supporting a family member with dementia. Yours Truly stays as my top Abby book but this might have taken the second slot.

I love books by Abby Jimenez. Her combination of romance and laughter and real-life issues make her stories come to life. I struggled a bit with this book, not because I didn't love it, because I did - it was such an easy read, and I was more than halfway through the book before I noticed. But at that point, I wondered what else could happen and how the struggles would come together. But I trusted that it would come through in the end and it did - not exactly how I pictured, but exactly how it should have.

I struggled because I had such a past family history with dementia and so that was very much hitting home with me and stirring up memories of going through that with my father. It was a very realistic portrayal in the book, and I liked that it didn't shy away from the hard parts. It was a beautiful story of love and loss and finding what's important.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you SO much to Forever & NetGalley for this arc. This surprise email approval made my entire year.

I read my first Abby Jimenez book last February and instantly became obsessed with her writing. This book continues to prove that she is an amazing writer.

My favorite part of Abby’s stories is her characters. She always gives them specific personality traits that just capture you into the story and laugh out loud at their witty remarks. Samantha’s character was hilarious in this sense. Despite all she was going through she still makes you laugh throughout the story. Xavier, although more serious, was also a lovable character through his selfless acts to continuously show up for Samantha even when it was putting a strain on his life.

This book has some heavy topics, but it helps enhance the story beyond the romance aspect. Love is not only highlighted through the main relationships of the story, but through family and friends on the side that show up for each other and support one another.

I truly enjoyed this book, and cannot wait for it to release in April to read it all over again. As I always say, Abby Jimenez is one of my favorite authors and I would literally read her grocery lists. I cannot wait for her next book already! If you are a fan of romance books, or any of Abby’s other books, you will not be disappointed. Overall 4.5 stars for this one!! I think Yours Truly & Just For The Summer are still my top favorites but this is a close follow up to them.

This is your classic Abby Jimenez! I adored every second of this. She really know how to write stories where the reader feels each and every thing that the characters are going through! Cannot wait to see what she writes next!

This book was Abby's best work yet. Wow, what an emotional and beautiful ride.
This book was all about fate and how it can turn your life upside down - for better and worse. I loved reading about Xavier and Samantha's love story. The way they meet is just comical - Samantha found a stray cat and walked into Xavier's vet clinic asking for help. After Xavier ended up being a total jerk, Samantha walked away never thinking she would see him again. And then one date changed everything.
Xavier was SO romantic, and I swooned at him throughout the book. At times this book was hard to read (emotionally) as the topics hit close to home (awful parents, dementia). The last 10% of this book had me SOBBING.

I had never read any book by Abby Jimenez. I was searching for a good book without all the open door scenes. A reviewer mentioned that this one might be the one. And I loved it!
There are quite a lot of hard moments. Because I’ve lived through a parent and an aunt having Alzheimer’s there were many familiar scenes. But because the disease affects each person differently there were also some things I learned.
I loved the way the family supported the mother and each other. It was a bumpy ride but it was a beautiful example of losing someone surrounded by love.
The story itself was about two people who fell in love but lived 2000 miles apart and how they refused to give up on love.

Favorite quotes:

“She didn’t know who I was or who he was. But she still knew what love was.”

“Maybe that’s the last thing we forget. Or we never forget at all. Not really. We lose the words to say it. We lose the ability to show it. But we never lose the ability to feel or recognize it when we see it. Love is the brightest Color in the gray world.”

Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

I’m a devoted fangirl of Abby Jimenez’s books—she knows exactly how to tug at heartstrings and compose a unique melody that resonates deeply. She never sugarcoats difficult, triggering topics or handles them with kid gloves, yet her tender and genuine approach always touches your heart, melting it while reminding you of the beautiful moments and cherished people in your life. Her writing is like a triple chocolate lava cake for my soul—each layer brings an even greater rush of emotion and euphoria!

This book is not just a heartfelt long-distance love story; it’s also a deeply moving family drama centered around a tight-knit household navigating a tragic, life-altering situation. The family matriarch, Lisa, is battling early-onset dementia, and while the emotional weight of this struggle sometimes overshadows the romance, the story remains powerful and thought-provoking. It’s the kind of book that feels like wrapping yourself in the softest blanket while sipping your favorite warm drink—comforting, moving, and impossible to put down.

Samantha, with her sharp sense of humor and internal conflict between logic and emotions, tries to resist falling for the grumpy, Greek-god-shaped veterinarian, Xavier. He’s a cinnamon roll of a man—arguably the best book boyfriend Jimenez has ever created—hiding behind a tough exterior shaped by years of trauma and abuse. I adored both characters, but Xavier, with his unwavering dependability and sweetness, stole my heart. He’s the kind of dream guy every woman wishes for but rarely finds in real life.

Samantha’s family is just as compelling—from her strong single-mom sister and her little boys to her artistic, straightforward brother, their sweet and caring grandmother, and their father, who’s on the verge of burnout from trying to hold everything together. And, of course, there’s Lisa, who faces one of the cruelest diseases, losing pieces of herself each day.

Samantha and Xavier’s paths cross in the most unexpected way—through a cat with no butthole in need of urgent surgery. Their first interaction is anything but a meet-cute, as Xavier accidentally says the wrong thing, but he quickly realizes his mistake and makes it up to her with a date that turns into a night neither of them will ever forget—all set to the soundtrack of Come On Eileen.

But just as sparks fly, reality crashes in. Samantha is moving to Los Angeles the next morning, and Xavier assumes that’s the end of their connection—until he realizes he can’t let her go so easily. Samantha, bound by duty to help care for her mother, can’t relocate, leaving Xavier to make the effort of flying 2,000 miles just to be with her. Can a long-distance relationship survive when Samantha is convinced it won’t work? Is love worth the risk, even when life is already overwhelming? Will they find a way to make it against all odds? You’ll have to read and find out!

Overall: This might just be my favorite Abby Jimenez book yet! If I could give it five gazillion stars, I would. I wholeheartedly recommend grabbing a copy ASAP!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with an ARC of one of the most anticipated books of the year in exchange for my honest thoughts.

say you'll remember me | abby jimenez

4/5⭐️
1/4🌶️
_____

Imagine meeting the love of your life.... the night before moving across the country. The result here: two lovebirds trying to keep a relationship alive when quite literally alllllll of the odds (and 2,000 miles) are stacked against them.


This book didn't quite reach the level of heart-melting, butterfly-inducing enthusiasm in me that her previous three books did, for a couple reasons:
1. While I did like the characters, I didn't feel attached to them. There was something missing with their character growth that I can't quite put my finger on.
2. The storyline was unique, but felt quite repetitive throughout the book. It's like the same conflicts kept happening again and again, but in different ways.

Don't get me wrong, this book still had an affect on me! There were moments that made me smile, giggle, and gave my heart a little squeeze. As you can imagine with a long distance relationship, there was PLENTY of pining. And let's not forget about the fur babies! 🐾 I absolutely loved the pet/veterinarian aspects.

As with many of Abby's books, this story has a heavier underlying theme, which in this case is advanced dementia. It was heartbreaking to see the hard truths of a family slowly losing a loved one to it's symptoms.

THINGS TO LOVE:
+ dual pov
+ veterinary meet cute
+ star crossed lovers
+ love at first date
+ long distance
+ a cinnamon roll veterinarian
+ organic mustard
+ rescue animals
+ dementia rep
+ complicated family dynamics
+ supportive friend group

{a gigantic thank you to Abby, Forever publishing, and NetGalley for the advanced copy!! Out 4/1/25}

(4.5) As someone who was in a very serious very long distance relationship for several years, I think Abby absolutely nailed it with this one. I spent my early 20s madly in love with a boy who lived 4,000 miles way. We were constantly living in wait. Waiting for the other to wake up so we could talk. Waiting for the chance to make plans and book tickets. Waiting for those visits to come. And then being so devastated when the trip ended and the waiting began. The emotions and the thoughts I had over those years were portrayed exactly in this story and it just felt so great to be seen, even if it's something I no longer relate to. There was so much emotion here, and not even just with the love story. The family story going on, for both characters, was multi level emotional and I was deeply invested. I don't know much about dementia, but Abby made me feel so much while reading about this family's experience. I love Samantha and Xavier so much. She is so witty and funny with such a deep love and strong soul. And he is caring in a way I think a lot of people aren't, with a big heart and so much passion I just adore him. Ugh, this was so good and I can't wait to go pick up a copy at Nadia Cakes.

5 STARS

I never wanted this book to end!

Abby Jimenez has done it again. Say You’ll Remember Me is an emotional journey of a daughter’s love, a family’s resilience, and the trials of finding love at an inopportune time, but also the joy and power that platonic love and romantic love provide.

Sam and Xavier’s instant chemistry was palpable. Abby does a fantastic job of bringing realistic obstacles in a relationship to Sam and Xavier, like long distance struggles, family obligations, financial insecurity, and career aspirations. I appreciate that Sam and Xavier feel tangible as characters because their humanity touches the reader’s emotions. As the couple go through the story, we can’t help but laugh and cry along with them because their love for each other and their respective passions are just so heartwarming.

Thank you Forever for providing an e-arc!